Let's imagine this scenario for a second. Reilly Smith makes an incredible impact with the Vegas Golden Knights in his second stint. He impresses everyone to the point where he gets a nice deal to stay with the team that made him a "Misfit." All is well and fans are brought back to the old days.
That should warrant a contract extension with Kelly McCrimmon, right? Let's say he gets a two-year deal worth $3 million (give or take). It all works out well for the winger and he gets to stay home. There's no need to sell your house and stay in a cramped Manhattan apartment.
Of course, this is a dream scenario where everything goes right and it comes with a Stanley Cup celebration in Toshiba Plaza. Again, if everything goes right, this will be the ideal scenario. But it's too early to tell with the "Misfit" only playing three games in his return to Las Vegas.
Still, it's fun to think of how he can be a major factor in the team's Stanley Cup window. He's a prototypical two-way forward who battles for the puck on every play. Such determination and grit make him a valued member of any team, almost as tasty as a Granny Smith apple.
So let's explore that possibility further. What makes the Toronto native viable for the next couple of seasons? What does he bring to the table that makes him the ideal piece? Do you want three reasons why retaining an "Original Misfit" makes sense? You got it!
1.) Reilly Smith helps the penalty kill
The Vegas Golden Knights have been terrible on the penalty kill this season. They rank 23rd in the NHL with a success rate of 76.2%. Part of that has been the absence of William Karlsson, who's battled injuries throughout the season. Having any reinforcements to come in and help is always a plus.
That's especially true with Reilly Smith, who has 15 career short-handed goals and nine short-handed assists. That included four in 2022-23, when he won the Stanley Cup. Having two short-handed threats on the same unit will put the opposing power play on its toes, leaving them to be more careful.
2.) The Vegas Golden Knights will see a familiar duo back together
Speaking of Smith and Karlsson, positive things have come from the pair playing together. In 2022-23, the two players have created magic together. Here's a breakdown of the duo's time together, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Stats in 2022-23 | TOI | CF% | FF% | SF% | GF% | xGF% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
William Karlsson and Reilly Smith playing together | 802:25 | 51.46% | 52.17% | 52.96% | 52.94% | 51.46% |
Everything between the two "Original Misfits" is organic. The shot attempts, the shot selections, and even the goal-scoring are better. Give these two players time together and they'll bounce off each other well. They're familiar with Bruce Cassidy's system and are great forecheckers, adding to their two-way mystique.
3.) He can still score goals
Granted, the 33-year-old isn't scoring 20+ goals like he used to. That comes with Father Time withering away at the body after the age of 30 hits. However, Smith still adds plenty of forward depth to the team, giving them goal-scoring in the middle-six. 10 goals this season isn't a bad number, especially when he also has 20 assists.
That's something Kelly McCrimmon has searched for throughout the season. With the salary cap going up, it leaves room to add another goal-scoring winger. Bruce Cassidy loves players who play well away from the puck and that applies here. Getting him on a shortened team-friendly deal adds to that depth, especially since he wanted to be in Las Vegas.